March 20, 2009

Kansas City, Mo. - Eighth-seeded Robert Morris College (Ill.) moved into the quarterfinals of the 2009 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament with an 89-69 victory over Tougaloo College (Miss.) Friday morning at Municipal Auditorium.

Reggie Bunch scored 16 of his game-high 27 points in the first half as the Eagles built a 43-38 halftime advantage. Bunch made 10 of his 12 shot attempts from the field and was seven of eight from the free throw line. He also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.

Robert Morris shot 44.9 percent from the field, including 47.2 percent in the second half. The Eagles grabbed 21 offensive rebounds and out-rebounded the Bulldogs 46-34 overall. In addition to Bunch, four other Eagle players reached double figures with Andre White leading that group with 13 points. Kenny Page and Billy White added 11 markers while Jason Bowden chipped in 10 points.

Jermaine Hodges netted a team-high 19 points and had four assists to pace Tougaloo. Sylvester Collins added 14 points and 14 rebounds.  The Bulldogs were consistent in each half from the field, making 43.2 percent in the first half and 43.3 percent in the second half. Tougaloo committed 18 turnovers in the game.

Robert Morris improves to 26-3 overall and will play either Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) or William Jewell College (Mo.) in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. CDT on Saturday. Tougaloo completes its season at 22-11 overall.

GAME NOTES

In the second half, Tougaloo had a stretch of more than five minutes without a field goal, allowing Robert Morris to go on an 11-2 run and take a 67-52 lead ... Robert Morris shot 47.2 percent in the second half and outscored Tougaloo 46-31 ... Robert Morris made 80.8 percent of its free throw attempts after making under 50 percent in its first-round contest ... Reggie Bunch recorded his 11th double-double of the season and his 27 points were two shy of his season-high ... Tougaloo's Sylvester Collins also had a double-double, his seventh of the year ... Robert Morris advances to the quarterfinals for the second straight season and is now 11-5 all-time in tournament play ...  Tougaloo was playing in the second round for the first time in its second appearance in the tournament.